A big smile from the Duchess as she disembarked with Charlotte from the plane.

The royals were welcomed by diplomats.

Victoria Murphy reported George was feeling a little shy and kicked William's shoes as they were greeted. Meanwhile, Charlotte appeared to enjoy shaking hands.

George, who turns four later this month, can always be relied upon for the cutest expressions :)

Ahead of the tour Kensington Palace released the following statement: "The Duke and Duchess will prioritise opportunities to meet the young people of both countries; from entrepreneurs, to mental health campaigners, and bright young talents in music and the arts. The tour will also take in the stunning scenery and architectural feats of Poland and Germany. The Duke and Duchess will wander through the beautiful market of Gdansk flanked by terracotta houses and cobbled pathways; they will take part in a rowing race on the Neckar River; and they will tour the spectacular Elbphilharmonie Concert hall in Hamburg. The five day tour will also include time acknowledging the complex 20th century histories of each country with visits to the Warsaw Rising Museum, Stutthof Concentration Camp, and the Berlin Holocaust Memorial. At each location Their Royal Highnesses will meet survivors of these periods, who will describe their personal experiences."

Whilst we're accustomed to seeing William and Kate undertaking Commonwealth tours, it's very much a change of pace this year with a clear focus on visiting Europe and strengthening ties as the next stage of Brexit talks unfolds. The Foreign Office is deploying members of the royal family to add a touch of 'soft diplomacy'. It will be interesting to see if William elects to refer to Britain leaving the EU, as he did in Paris, in one of his speeches.

Sky News spoke to two diplomats who hailed the tour as "historic". More from Rhiannon Mills:

Speaking in Warsaw at the start of the tour, Jonathan Knott told Sky News: "One of the features as you know of the royal family is that they are apolitical, they are above politics, so this is really about the connection between peoples, between organisations. "That's one of the reasons why we've made sure that they talk both about Poland's past, but also that they see some of the potential for collaboration in future."

When asked if the Royal couple would come across anyone talking about the topics of migration and citizens rights, Mr Knott said: "I wouldn't say they were off the table but I don't think that's the kind of visit that we're on."This isn't a ministerial visit, this isn't a prime ministerial visit, but what I think the visit is really going to do is accelerate that process of deepening our relationships and making sure that as we go through the process of leaving the EU our relationship doesn't weaken - actually it gets stronger."

Following the arrival, George and Charlotte travelled with Nanny Maria Teresa to Belvedere Palace where the family is staying during their time in Poland. Below we see Maria Teresa with Natasha Archer.

The present building is the latest of several that stood on the site since 1660.It once belonged to Poland's last king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, who used it as a porcelain-manufacturing plant. From 1818 it was the residence of Russian Grand Duke Constantine, who fled it at the beginning of the November 1830 Uprising. During World War II, the building was extensively remodelled for Hans Frank, Governor of the "General Government" of Poland. It remains one of the few original structures in Warsaw to survive World War II. Today, Belevedere is used by the government and president for ceremonial purposes. It also serves as an official residence for heads of state on official visits to Poland and other important guests.

There has been great excitement at the Palace ahead of the visit with several special additions added to make the stay more fun for George and Charlotte.

I suspect they are going to love this :)

A look inside the stately residence.

Next, William and Kate were officially greeted by President Duda and the First Lady at the Presidential Palace.

William and Kate chatted with the Presidential couple and posed for photos before heading inside.

William and Kate took a brief walk around the Palace gardens.

The Duke and Duchess enjoyed a meal with the President, First Lady and a selection of guests.

Below, Kate sitting beside President Andrzej Duda.

William and Kate had an opportunity to meet members of the public during a walkabout.

Kate and First Lady Agata talking among a sea of UK and Poland flags.

Kate joked she and William should have another baby, after being given a present designed for newborns. More from The Mirror:

'Kate, already a mother-of-two, was offered a cuddly toy designed to soothe tiny babies during an event for start-up tech companies today. Saying thank you for the present, she turned to the Duke laughing and said: “We will just have to have more babies.”

The soft toys, from company Whisbear, are designed to comfort newborns by replicating the sound of the womb, responding to their cries to soothe them. Julia Sielicka-Jastrzebska, who founded the company with her sister, said the Duchess made the light-hearted comment after learning the bears were designed for children younger than George and Charlotte. “We gave the Duchess some presents for Prince George and Princess Charlotte,” she said. “She said they should have more babies, and they laughed.”

They received beautiful flowers from local schoolchildren.

A fantastic photo of Kate meeting a very excited little girl.

A Polish student told Kate's she's beautiful, the Duchess replied "it's not true, it's just the make up".

'Magda Mordaka, 21, a student, said: “We are fans of the British monarchy. We have a Facebook group. We love her style, and her contact with people. We were waiting for this visit from the very beginning. What would she wear? Would she bring the children? “We were telling her that she is beautiful and perfect, but she said it's not true - it's just the make-up.”

Sebastian Brodowski, 39, an accountant who lived in the UK for 15 years, said: “She is a stunning lady - she has got class. I really love her attitude. I believe that she will be the next Diana.”

The Warsaw Rising Museum was opened on the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of fighting in Warsaw. The Museum is dedicated to the uprising of 1944 which saw the Polish resistance Home Army attempt to liberate Warsaw from German occupation. The Polish resistance was defeated after 63 days of fighting, but is remembered as the largest single military effort by any European resistance movement during World War II.

The Duke and Duchess toured the museum.

There are exhibits over several floors, containing photographs, audio and video, interactive displays, artifacts, written accounts, and other testimonies of how life was during the German occupation of Warsaw, the uprising, and its aftermath. There are displays dedicated to each district of Warsaw. There are many free informative leaflets and flyers (in Polish and English), including 63 calendar pages covering the dates from 1 August 1944 to 2 October 1944 — each containing a summary of the most important events that took place on that particular day of the uprising.

A replica of a B-24 Liberator.

A 1940s style cafe recreated.

The Duke and Duchess met Major Marian Słowiński and Colonel Edmund Brzozowski, members of the Polish Army and Resistance during World War II.

They recalled their experiences.

Richard Palmer received an unexpected answer when he asked a veteran about meeting royalty :)

Richard Palmer Twitter

At the Wall of Remembrance, The Duke and Duchess read the names of those involved in the Uprising, including British RAF pilots.

Candles were lit in memory of those who lost their lives in the rising.

William and Kate visited the 38th floor of the Spire building in Warsaw this afternoon to meet young Polish entrepreneurs.

The Duke and Duchess joined a busy, bustling event which includes a tech market-place, and pitching sessions from Polish start-ups. This event marks the beginning of a 'Warsaw-London bridge' initiative that aims to help small Polish businesses access London’s unique opportunities for scaling up to become global players.

William and Kate met the brains behind a start-up that specialises in virtual reality and 3D visualisations and even had a try.

The coat is described as "Alexander McQueen's coat has been impeccably tailored in Italy from mid-weight ivory wool and silk-blend twill. This style has a feminine V-neckline and gently kicks out at the waist into a rippling peplum that softly folds at the back." It's currently available at Net-A-Porter reduced by 50% to $1,538.

The outfits worn by the Cambridge family were clearly coordinated to honour the colours of the Polish flag, red and white.

Tonight, William and Kate will visit the picturesque Orangery in Łazienki Park, where the British Ambassador will host a Queen's Birthday Party. We expect a more formal evening look for the Duchess, we'll have a separate post covering that engagement.

209 comments:

I really like this dress/suit. It's very sleek and feminine. Very professional and very standard Kate.

Like the new jewelry. Nice and subtle flag colour coordination. These are quite a "traditional" kind of set that I think is a good addition to her jewelry box! I like the rather "hefty" sice of the pieces while still working well as daytime pieces. I wonder if the stones can be garnet (I think it's a famous Polish commodity) since they would be very large if they are rubies.

I know some hate nude shoes, and I get it. But I am very fond of this specific pair of nude shoes so I'm happy :)

Garnet would make sense given the Poland connection. Garnet is also the birthstone for January. But is garnet so translucent and light-colored? My garnet pieces are pretty dark and I always thought that was a property of it.

Agree Rebecca, since she's an HRH I have no problem with her wearing "hefty" pieces during the daytime. (at appropriate engagements of course) I'm happy to see it and would like to see more, it's about time in my opinion! People want to be wowed when they meet her.

So difficult to determine the stone color in all of these pictures, but the ring seems most like garnet. My birthday is the day before Kate's and my finer garnet pieces are much lighter and brighter in color than my cheaper, darker stones that are a color we more commonly associate with garnet. It's possible they are garnet.

Lovely to see them on tour again. Kate looks great and I love that Charlotte is wearing red and white, a sartorial nod to the host country :) Also, I see Kate is wearing a lovely necklace with a red stone I think, nice touch.

It does look like a lovely ruby set, the earrings and the necklace that is. I suspect the ring would be too. If those are rubies, it would also be highly coincidental as it is the birth stone for the month of July :)

I had a feeling she would be in white! So many on Twitter have commented about George looking uncomfortable, and after a few watches of video of their arrival I think I have a hunch as to why. I think he didn't like the soldiers with weapons alongside the red carpet. If you watch he doesn't look at them, and as they walk away from the plane and inside, he keeps his back to them entirely. Totally avoids eye contact with them. Then as soon as he clears the red carpet and is away from them, he faces forward again and starts looking around. I imagine he was quite scared, those were big guns!

Already seen some of the media making comments about how he was kicking the ground, looking bored, etc. But I really think it was more fear than anything! Charlotte looked sweet as can be. They are both adorable.

George and Charlotte remind me of Charles and Anne, personality wise. George is very reserved, almost introverted and shy, much like Charles. Charlotte, on the other hand seems to be the "take charge" sibling. I remember Kate even described her as 'feisty', like most girls lol! Princess Anne has struck me as someone who doesn't shy away from anything, Charlotte also doesn't seem very shy.

Their personalities could also have a lot to do with their star signs. George is born under Cancer, a very reserved and introverted sign. While Charlotte is born under Taurus which is the bull, a dominating and assertive sign.

The only reason I bring it up is because my brother are I are also born under Taurus and Cancer respectively and the resemblence between George and Charlotte's personalities are uncanny lol :)

I actually do think there's wisdom in having George and Charlotte experience these arrivals and departures. It exposes them to a bit of the bustle, the press the crowds, and then they're quickly out of sight if it gets too much. I don't particularly care if they're at polo or anywhere else, that's a decision for Kate and William to make, *as long* as they have fairly regular appearances on British soil as well, every other month perhaps? And that is a bit lacking.

But I think it's very brave to start a foreign tour with a 4 year old and a 2 year old at your side, trust me at that age things change in the blink of an eye, you go from smiling and calm to meltdown in mere seconds!I'm sure there's many here who cringe at the thought!

I hate when I see criticism of George for his behaviour in engagements like these. He's only 4 and it's a completely bizarre situation for a 4 year old to be in! Let him be a normal kid for as long as he can before he's King.

Some kids are shy, some are forward, some depends. You cannot tell ANYTHING about them being shy or not and how that correlates to where they are. For all we know George is very socialized but have a starting point that is even shyer.

I love seeing the kids, but I get a lump in my throat by all the "analyzing the children" that happens. We do not know these kids, their parents do. And they do their best. As most parents do. Parenting is hard enough without all the judging that comes with this. I'm not even a parent and I can see that!

I think that people are just giving their opinions on that as they do on most everything else. I don't think anyone is being mean. Just expressing opinions and observations. I am a parent and have raised my son in a somewhat high profile existence so I know, even from that, how many differing opinions there can be on parenting. It happens whether high profile or not, lol. George and Charlotte are on tour. It comes with the territory.

Rebecca, surfer girl, and Penny - I think you're being a little unfair. At least I didn't read Nina's comment as "criticism" of George - just an observation. And Nina even said she thought it was probably because of the big guns and he's so little - imo not something meant negatively. It is possible to say a child looks shy without meaning it as a bad thing - it's only people who interpret that to mean something bad who are making it a negative. I don't disagree at all that children shouldn't be criticized for their behavior, but I think "analyzing the children" at least so far on this specific blog post has been done fine. After all, George IS a future king. And heck, people on this blog very often defend Kate's lack of work by saying she is raising a future king, and so his childhood is extra important. Well, if that's the case, that implies his childhood development is important not just for his family, but the nation, so it's not entirely unfair for people to comment on his personality a bit.

Maggie, I agree with you. I don't think that anyone here would criticise young George or William and Kate's parenting. I totally understand Nina's point about George being surrounded by all that artillery, it would be daunting and maybe even a little intriguing, for anyone.

So what if he was kicking the ground whilst his parents were talking to those dignitaries? He's (almost) 4, I really don't think that those people expected a firm handshake followed by a diplomatic exchange of pleasantries from him. They're kids and I believe that William and Kate are doing a phenomenal job representing Britain as a family. I'm sure that they will make some great memories whilst vising these 2 wonderful countries.

I noticed that Nina. Quite a "coincidence". A boy who plays soldiers or not, is likely to notice the soldiers and guns more. Not to sound sexist or anything. Hopefully his dad will, as time goes by, help him be at ease more around that. He will, one day, be inspecting military troops at home and abroad and will be the head of the armed forces. He has plenty of time to get acclimated to that though and will no doubt be a rough and tumble play soldier soon like his daddy and uncle were as young boys. Remember those pictures of them? :)

There were remarks in some forums that the appearance of the Cambridges as a family rather than just as a couple was more meaningful in establishing a relationship that both the Queen and William indicated would be on-going. It said a lot that they felt safe and comfortable in bringing their little ones.I thought the efforts made to welcome the children and entertain them were charming and a little amazing, as the decision to bring them was announced fairly recently. The hosts may have known sooner than the press, however.. I'm so glad these efforts were made public and that Charlotte chose to include them.

I think the idea of exposing children to feared experiences for the sole purpose of "getting used to it" is a rather strange way to approach a two year old and four year old. Perhaps later when the child can better understand the circumstances-especially the presence of guns with fixed bayonets, of all things to have as a reception to a country. There may have been some security situation, but I think less obtrusive security would have been more appropriate, especially with such young children involved. George is at an age to be aware of the difference between a toy and a real gun. Charlotte probably didn't notice.In the end, along with a child's chronological age, the individual child can vary greatly in ability to cope. I truly believe a lot of this is present in the child at birth. What I mean is-my daughter perfectly described her children's personalities before they were born by their reactions in utero. I have heard a number of mothers comment on this. Personality traits displayed in babies seem to carry through later years as well.A side note: we have no idea what had gone on in the plane prior to their appearance that could have accounted for George's actions. At age four, being interrupted while playing with a favorite toy is enough to provoke an outburst. Children that age don't have a vocabulary to express feelings well and most reaction is physical, although use of language starts being seen as a tool to control one's environment at Charlotte's age. The power of "NO" is something a two year old can appreciate.I also find it ironic that other royal children are praised for their naturalness (due to their being allowed to run loose at polo, no doubt) while George (or his parents) is judged for behavior that is completely normal for his age. After a long plane ride, following Mum and Dad's being very busy and likely distracted by engagements and prep, it's a wonder they didn't have to forcibly remove him from the plane. I think I might have wanted to kick something by then.

Nina NYC @13:16Your observation is very important, and more so if that was truly the case. I think one of the skills of being a good parent, or be in children's business is to be a good observer and have the capability to see the world through the child's eyes, be in tune with the child, and the rest is a whole number of other things. Not all of us have that kind of either multi tasking mind, patience or disposition.

With rubies being a 'precious' stone and garnets considered a 'semi-precious stone', I suspect the Duchess' jewelry set would be rubies. Amethysts would be more purple looking. Plus rubies would tie into the red and white color theme.

Thank you for being so quick, Charlotte! What a lovely looking family the Cambridges are, they all look very relaxed (although George was a bit shy)...I can't get over how tall he is for his age! I swear he'll reach his dad's height in no time :) I love Charlotte's dress & Kate's McQueen coat. Nice crisp choice with both being decked out in the Polish flag colours. I'm really loving her new jewellery...exquisite amethysts! They go perfectly with Kate's eyes.

What a treat! Kate looks stunning. I know I'm repeating myself but the new haircut suits her so much better.I also love her outfit from head to toe. Charlotte and George are too cute. What a great start to this tour!

I'm also watching live. I'm always struck by how intimidating it must be. Wall of camera crew walking backwards, photographers yelling, a host of security around, being rushed around and forward. It's all very intense and I'm always impressed by how present and friendly they look during the walkabouts. They must really be well trained in just zooning out what is happening around them!

I agree, Rebecca. That's what makes it amazing to me when they are so scrutinized and critiqued while doing the arrivals, departures and walk abouts. I have to remind myself also about what all is going on around them so as to keep their behaviors and responses in accurate perspective. They handle it all superbly.

Not that intensely as it is on tour Bluhare. But yes, they are used to it in a way. But it gives a whole other dimension to the "they are just saying hi to some people, how hard can it be" narrative of their role.

Thank you Charlotte!! I see where W & K are getting George accustomed to his "royal" role--he will be scared of course but with Dad right beside him he will grow in confidence. Charlotte is a natural. Kind of like Anne and Charles perhaps? Thought the family looked wonderful and so friendly. Can't wait for the rest of the day!!!!

Might also be a bit of a combination of "general personality" but also age. George is at an age where you're becoming more and more aware of your surroundings and that can be scary. Both the kids behaved very well :)

@Caroline, I was just telling my daughter exactly the same thing. Charlotte reminds me SO much of HM. As far as the media is concerned: I would never critizise George´s behaviour, he´s a nearly 4 year old boy, the first born, I won´t go into too much detail, but there are a lot of factors that influence how a child behaves in such very special circumstances. He generally seems to be rather shy and very careful, and if that´s his personality, so be it. Maybe he won´t want to be King one day and passes the crown onto Charlotte - who knows what will be in the future! Whatever happens, at the moment he´s a child and should be able to show his emotions. Thankfully we can´t "order" our children how we would wish them to be or how they should be according to the role they might have to play one day. Above all, the two of them are such cuties!!

It's a nice suit, I like Kate in suits, it fits her well, her hair looks good, but somehow it lacks quite the 'wow' we've seen on earlier tours openings - and recently on Queen Letizia.

I'm no authority on little ones, but if George was a spaniel, I would say he was badly socialised - not taken out enough and then thrust into a hugely different situation - rather like raising a pup in the country and then trying to walk him down Piccadilly with no high street in between. (I also wouldn't bend to sympathise as much either - instead a lot of cheery 'come along now'.) But children are different although my parents did raise me a bit like their spaniels - hear me bark! (And bluhare I do say no to my spaniels, although they sometimes seem to think it means 'yes' or pretend it does.)

I would think more polo matches before jumping into state visits (and not because I want to see George that much but I would love to see him look happy) but I'm not the parent.

I agree about not fussing over them so much. Sometimes that can create anxiety where the situations would have just been briefly experienced as growth and not profound or something odd, if that makes sense. Thus the "come along" tact is often the best. There are occasional exceptions of course, like at polo where there are big horses coming and going. I much preferred Pippa's approach to the wedding "child herding", lol, than Kate's anxious constant bending over them and not letting the moment just be the moment. Pippa looked relaxed and the children took their cue from her. I don't think George should have been publicly scolded for stepping on Pippa's gown either. He didn't mean to is my guess. Just pulling him gently aside and softly telling him that was part of Pippa's dress so don't step on it, that might been better for George's little psyche and might have made better headlines all around. :)

Different kids, different parenting techniques. I am not going to sit and armchair parent their kids. Parents get way too many "good tips" and judged way too harshly in general, especially on the internet. They know their kids and what they respond to. They know themselves and what they are comfortable with. If they want parenting tips they can turn to their family, nanny etc.

I am sorry if I sound harsh but I think these comments are quite out of line.

I think for a 4 year old, he did fine. Even dating back to visiting Charlotte at the hospital, he has never seemed to be a fan of the crowds. As he gets older, he will need to learn to deal with it, but for now, some gentle coaching is fine.

I would also love to see the kids at polo but also can imagine the nightmare it might be. If those kids misbehaved and had to be disciplined or 'misbehaved' and were not disciplined, than all the mom judgements would come flying out. I am sure Diana was judged but it's so much more nowadays. I hope we will see more of them once they are back in the city just being out and about.

I don't think that the coddling and coaxing this morning was out of place at all, just to clarify. It was appropriate and needed. Although if George hadn't been hovered over (didn't even appear necessary) when they landed in Canada then today's coddling and coaxing might not have been necessary. Just my opinion.

Loved the photos I've seen of George and Charlotte looking out of the jet (a beautiful jet, btw) window. So so sweet. And I particularly like the photo of George standing nonchalantly by his dad touching his little lips to his dad's hand. Hope William gets a photo of that. And was that a private jet? Didn't Poland provide a military one?I love Kate's jewelry. Great for wardrobe basics. I love the classics. I have smaller earrings like that only mine are not dangly.Kate's outfit is youthful and beautiful. I find I am now going to always be comparing Kate's outfits with Letizia's, lol. How frustrating, yeh? Two totally different scenarios. Standard Kate. And the variety and perfection of Letizia. Kate is always beautiful though because she is Kate. :)

Yes, at the risk of criticism, I will confess I don't understand William and Kate's parenting with regards to exposing their children to novelty. Instead of polo where they could play surrounded by other children they know like Peter's and Zara's who are more confident, or small engagements with perhaps a few soldiers to get them used to equipment and to make it fun (like the Swedes have done with theirs) - they seem to hide them away and then suddenly bring them out for events even the boldest child would find intimating - these huge arrival meet and greets - with all these adults and photographers and honour guards, or noisy airshows again full of crowds and adults and big machines, parties in Canada with lots of strange children where they weren't left much to explore and discover on their own but the parents constantly hovered instead of what one of my young friends - whose children are school age now - called the 'parent walk' following behind their toddlers - letting them make their own way but keeping an eye on the situation. Pippa's wedding too - usually there is a young adult bridesmaid like Pippa was for Kate and Donna's daughter would have served so well - herding the little ones instead of mum worrying - and yes, ending up scolding for something a young minder would probably have given a quick warning for.

Australia worked quite well but George was younger then - it's as if William and Kate didn't take into account the changes that come as children grow older. (What for us spaniel owners is the puppy fear period where's it's imperative to get them out socialised in easy experiences but not to overdo it.) How they raise their children in private is up to them - and many children are shy and children do need to learn to meet adults - but I still don't quite follow it. They have every reason to be proud of their little ones but I would so much rather not see George look distressed.

think and hope school - away from mum - where he is treated hopefully as an ordinary little lad - will be the making of George - because right now it does remind me more of Charles as a child than William and Harry. I only hope school is a positive experience because it can be intimating too - I know full well for I found it hard myself - but their choice sounds like a good caring one.

I completely agree with you Rebecca and thank you for being direct in your comments. It is not appropriate to criticize Will and Kate's parenting. They know what works for their children. Also, I think it is important to remember that George and Charlotte are very young, their personalities are developing, and they are going to behave in certain ways. It is perfectly okay if George is reserved and shy. That is normal, given the situation and his personality. William and Kate respond to him well and he feels secure with them. When William kneels down or bends over to speak with his children, there is a reason for that. He is meeting them at their level, both physically and emotionally. It is not easy for children when adults tower over them, and one of the best things parents can do is bend down when speaking to their children. This gives the child security and they are at eye level with the adult. Communication is much more effective and helpful for child and parent. William and Kate are intentional about this with George and Charlotte.

Julia, your comments are amusing. First of all I don't think Kate ever intends to dress like the Queen of Spain or any one else. She has the WOW factor naturally with her kindness and inward beauty. Secondly, comparing kids with dogs is silly. I applaud Rebecca and others on their kind and positive comments and Charlotte on her pictures and captions which are always kind and truthful.

Comparing kids with dogs is pretty accurate -- when it comes to behavior and getting them to behave properly when you think about it, Annette. Consistency, and rewards. The methods may be a bit different, but the concept is pretty similar.

I agree that comparing dogs to kids (and behaviour in humans in general) is fair. It has many similarities.

The thing is, you can get almost any kid or animal to behave for a short while the almost exact way you want them to. The most effective way is usually fear. BUT, that is not a good way even though it might in short time give a outwardly good result. On some kids the "let's just get on with it" is a great way to neutralize a situation and not make a big thing out of it. On other kids, they might after a while respond with "good behaviour" outwardly on that but that is because they know "they wont get help". What works on one child doesn't work on another. Some parents are "tougher" and some are softer. Neither are worse or better, although it might work worse or better on different kids. Some kids might seem "coddled" and some parents might seem strict. And most parents do things "wrong". Because there is, as Kate has said, no guidebook. There is no one way to do it and there can be multiple different results from the same technique. Which, again, is why I don't belive in the armchair parenting (or illness diagnosing btw) that is so popluar. Especially since parenting forums and groups (while they can be amazing) can be some of the harshest and most judgemental places. Because the thing is, William and Kate wont read this, but other commenters do.

SCNC, thank you for your wise and expert (as a mental health professional) comments re parenting as a personal choice--what works for your child. I wouldn't comment on even my daughter's parenting style as long as she was not abusing her children. And as I have said before we don't know that George and Charlotte don't play with their cousins. They may just choose to play in private.

William and Kate are both tall people (looks like George will be as well)--they bend down to speak to both young people and people in wheelchairs. That they do the same with their child is not unusual or inappropriate.

And one difference between dogs and children is that children can verbally converse with their parents and have a wider understanding of the conversation. I adopted my dog from a rescue shelter. It took a lot of patience to socialize her and while I have met people who think dogs are their children, my dog is my much loved dog and companion but she is my dog not my daughter.

Oh, Julia. The first time I recall seeing George being shy was the visit to see Charlotte in hospital as a new born. He faced a wall of cameras. I think it is those situations that intimidate him, quite understandably. They would intimidate me and I'm ten times his age. No amount of low key outings would prepare George for that. George goes to nursery and there was talk in the weekend papers of play dates with Mia so I'm not sure doubts need to be raised about his socialisation.

Just a word on animals Rebecca - fear actually is a very poor way of training most animals (I'm not speaking of training cats! Near impossible!) Positive consistent reinforcement is considered best these days - (for instance one of our spaniels came to us from a farm when she was a bit older - every noise like a motorbike frightened her. My instinct would have been to pick her up and hug and reassure her but that just gives the impression there is something to be anxious about - that's where the cheery 'don't worry about it dear, trot along,' came in, encouraging her and praising her when she walked on calmly. Fairly soon, she took no notice. If discipline is needed, a quick firm command, followed by praise is best.

Children of course are different and generations are different - my generation functioned with a lot of rules - in a way to remember them didn't leave a lot of time for being anxious! (No hands in pockets, no fidgeting, looking at people directly, saying thank you so often it's still an ingrained habit.) Mum would never correct us in public unless there was severe acting out- which mostly there wasn't because we knew there were consequences - but we would hear about it privately later.

Today parents seem much more relaxed and I think that's generally a good thing. But I do think gradual socialisation and exposure works on animals, children and adults. It remains the common way of conquering phobias - I've done it myself for my flying fear and found it very helpful - but I would still prefer a 747 to a bouncing small plane - rational or no. And I think today was the equivalent of a bouncing small plane for George and I can't blame him.I would just love someday when he is still small to see him smiling and happy - having fun even if he is acting out a bit - and that means being where he could play without too many consequences. That's why I love those Swedish photo ops - if Lenore bolts off and Alexander is a bit fussy - no one's much troubled. (The photos of Victoria with Oscar were adorable! She looked so gloriously happy.)

I could not read beyond your post because I am laughing . Just when Julia's comment touched me and lingered behind my my mind while I continued to read the posts after hers, bang! the no non sense Court's comment took me away between laughter and surprise.

From my observation over the years, even with all the best of intention, material, care etc., as there are people who have “green thumbs”, there are people who are good to excellent disposition in raising humans, as there are people who can be good to excellent with animals.Parenting humans is a very complex matter.

We hear everyone here say they're not going to comment on parenting techniques and yet the same people routinely comment on parenting techniques of royals past.

For instance - as mentioned below - the queen and Charles when she returned from her world tour - she was too distant a parent - the queen and Philip on how they raised Charles and Anne - the queen on how she spoilt Andrew, how the queen is responsible for the breakdown of her children's marriages (even though that is almost certainly not true in the case of Anne and Andrew - it is frequently mentioned here) the queen being a cold and distant mother. Charles being a poor parent to the boys after the divorce, Diana being too permissive, Diana being too absent - Harry being forced to walk behind his mother's coffin - mentioned by HIM even though at the time it wasn't even questioned. I could go on and on - some of these things I mention myself - almost all of them are have been mentioned by posters above - yet at the time, the queen's treatment of Charles was very much the norm - and not just in upper class households, the queen being a doting mum to Andrew was seen as charming - and most of us would have jumped up and said of course Harry wanted to honour his mum if someone had questioned the choices at the funeral. Most of us were deeply touched.

Going back George V, Mary, Edward, Victoria - historians write books about their parenting - so we can assume William and Kate are doing everything perfectly for George now - but thirty years from now - their parenting decisions will be analysed in connection with his conduct - George may even be giving an interview saying how much he hated being forced to go on tours - just as William has complained about photo ops we all thought were delightful at the time. So you never know...

As for Mia - who knows - as I said that greeting ceremony would be challenging for even the most precocious child - and yet she's such a firecracker, there's no telling. Most unlikely we will ever find out - but again, we never know.

It would be cute to see William carrying Charlotte for a change...it's usually Kate who carries her. Maybe it's Charlotte's preference. Children that age are often attached to one parent and want only that parent to do anything for them. Three of my girls at that age wanted only me, and the other one wanted only her father.

That is a beautiful coat and lovely jewelry. The whole family looks so put together and happy to be there. I think the only thing that would have elevated the look is if she would have stepped off the plane with a sleek blow-out and side part. I think the internet would have taken a collective gasp. :-) I know she loves her curls and I'm trying to remember if I have ever seen a photo of her with straight hair. I do love the length, though.

Somehow, I completely forgot this tour was kicking off today! Kate looks professional and polished -- and I must say, her hair has really grown on me, no pun intended. I loved the First Lady's dress. It had a bohemian flair to it that I wasn't expecting. It's always nice to see how George and Charlotte have grown. I couldn't help thinking how much George looks like William in that photo of him with his hand in his pocket.

The more photos I see of her the more I love her dress and belt! However, I was assuming she was about my age, but I looked her up and she's a good 10 years younger than me! Not trying to be unkind, I just thought she looked beautiful and probably in her mid to late 50's. (She's 45) Anyone else think that or has my age radar gone completely off?! (Or perhaps I have an out of focus view of myself!)

Thanks to all who participated in the "DKB Pre-Tour Toast". Charlotte has facilitated such an amazing community here and it showed. Hopefully we can continue to support Charlotte in this way for future tours. 🥂 Cheers to you all. ❤️

So excited for this tour! The children are adorable. Kate's suit is ok. I think I prefer the original peplum rather than her bespoke version. Usually, I don't like matched sets but here, for this occasion, and with this skirt suit, it works. Still not in love with the new hair style. Apart from the odd photo where it looks pretty good, most of the time it just looks unpolished and unstyled. For those who think she does not wear extensions, there they are right in the back. I missed the toast for Charlotte, so I'll toast our intrepid blogger now with a lovely little ( ok not so little mimosa). 🍹

Very quick stop by...: I think Kate looks perfect and the hair is almost okay with me. I do love the skirt of this suit - it's slightly different than her usual ones. I don't mind the fact that this suit is so similar to others. I have given up on the hope that she won't buy very similar things - that is just how she is. About extensions : yes, they are very obvious. It's the little poofy piece at the back which sticks out a bit and is a different color. Darker - you can tell very clearly in the picture where her back is completely turned.

So funny surfer girl I would say the same! However, one of my aging icons, Christie Brinkley, swears by them, and says she never leaves the house without them. As she got older she said her hair got thinner and limper and she was soon addicted, I think she even started her own brand?

Erika and bluhare - How do you ladies see it, I'm not sure - is it the way the part stops at the back and the hair seems to spread out over a bump?

Rosman and bluhare have it right, surfer girl and Claudia. The fall is visible at the top back of her head. It isn't blended well with her own hair and one can see it is a dfferent color and texture. It is most obvious in the photo with her back to us as Rosman said. Also in that photo, there are two sections of hair ( stick straight) that are darker and a completely different texture than her own. Those are extensions that are not behaving. So she is has a wiglet (fall) and some extensions as well.

I think the peplum was changed because of the addition of the belt. In the original version, you can see a pieced "belt" on the front sides and in the back, which is missing on Kate's version, as she has an actual belt. I think the removal of that false belt piece and the addition of the skinnier actual belt changed the proportions and made the original peplum not make sense.

Not knowing anything about extensions--why would she need extensions if she's cut her hair? Are they stuck in so they have to grow out? Ditto a fall--I only know falls from the days of Twiggy and they were to change short hair to long.

Kate was out in the sun, humidity, wind at her patronage Wimbledon until late afternoon and likely up with the chickens the next morning to get herself and family on a plane to Poland. She has had a number of situations like that, especially recently. Of course she would use hair embellishments. Even a ride-along hairdresser can do just so much. The much-admired Letizia must also use hair pieces-unless one thinks hair can grow inches, shrink, or expand over-night.What was the point to be made here? Are we saying she's fake/ Not really beautiful? ( Wow factor etc.) That is how this debate of her alleged use of hair devices came across to me. I hope I mis-read it and if so, I humbly apologize.

Oh am I jealous! I enjoyed delicious meals every day when I visited Poland! Excited to watch the trip unfold! I like her dress suit but I could never wear cream! I get everything on my clothes! Ha ha! Heather C Detroit MI

It just occurred to me that it is George's birthday this Saturday. I know that the lead-up to birthdays in my grandchildren's lives was often more exciting than the actual day and they would be constantly asking their parents about it. Perhaps that is another reason K & W brought George. Yeah, yeah, there is Skype but the 3 and 4 year olds I know prefer to have mom and dad right there at important times.

William definitely has a challenge on his hands trying to wrangle George. I do think George has reached an age where he can be instructed how to act when meeting other adults, after all, his status in life from now on will require a certain decorum, and he might as well start now. It does look like William is trying hard, it just takes time! Kate looks perfect, but her hair from the back looks strange.

Why does the Queen do it? It works. And classics can be returned many years after if you keep your shape (as Princess Anne demonstrates). Speaking of classics, In the early 1980s I had a dress from France cut very similarly to the Polish First Lady's grey dress. Mine was in a soft peach shade which I accessorized to great effect with a small, veiled bowler-style hat, the type Diana used to favour. Sigh.... I should never have parted with it.

I always love a george and charlotte appearance! My kids are the same ages, and you just never know how they're going to act! My oldest tends to be reserved in new situations like George, and my youngest is outgoing and curious like Charlotte seems to be. Maybe they can come to the US for a play date! Haha!

I love Kate's hair and outfit today. I feel like the top would look better if tailored for a more fitted look, but it looks like the original is hanging off the model, so maybe it's supposed to be loose like that. Did Kate add a belt? Looks great! I think she looks beautiful, and more importantly, she is certainly dressed perfectly for the occasion.

I didn't like her shorthair the last time she cut it, because it aged her quite a bit. But I really like it this time, and I think it's quite trendy.

I look forward to seeing what stops they make and learning more info about these two countries.

Really love the arrivals for tours. The excitement is almost palpable even through the internet. The family looks wonderful. I'm taking notes for my next family photo session! Now that's a master class in coordination.

Love Kate's outfit. I really like the change to the peplum in the back but the original is pretty too. I think it definitely screamed for a belt.

I am also in love with the new jewelry. I love rubies and don't think they are worn enough by everyone. If it were up o me, I'd give everyone a ruby.

I agree with Anett, very similar to other white coats she owns & very similar to the pink McQueen first worn on the Australia tour. But to me, that's ok, I have many items that are similar but slightly different. Most are shoes and not coats/dresses.

Yeah !!!Kate and William with children are visiting my country,Poland.It fulfills my dreams and expectations.I am very happy that they see Polish culture,beautiful architecture and touching history.It is very nice to see red and white,colours of Polish flags in their clothes.Charlotte catch a glimpse of everyone. She is became star of our media :)

I think Kate looks great. I am glad to see she has added some classic red pieces of jewelry to her collection. I know it has been mentioned before that a red necklace or earrings like this would work with outfits in the past. Everyone looked relaxed and happy to visit. I was a little surprised at how low the suit was cut in front. Not that it itself is scandalously low or anything, but when you are juggling a kid, sometimes tops can get tugged down!

I agree that some of these comments are out of line. Can't we just enjoy this family without writing a journal on how to raise kids,how to walk, and other such things. It seems the further you read in the comments, the more negative they get! (With a few nice ones mixed in).

Perhaps not but for the second time on a tour we have a child who is clearly hugely uncomfortable, not making eye contact (the three year old boys I know would be fascinated by solders) - not responding the the surrounding adults, and having to be urged to get off the plane. I think it is perfectly fair to wonder why they are doing this - some people think it's cute - others of us find it uncomfortable to see a child put in that position and also distracting to the welcoming committee.

It's a fair criticism. Maybe that's the best way to get George used to his future life - I don't claim to be any expert - but he has shown no improvement in comfort level since the Canadian visit - and no, I didn't enjoy watching it quite honestly. I wondered why they thought it was a good idea to bring the children on this trip - but I hope we will find out and I think it's well - quite frankly out of line to say we are out of line - we are entitled to our own opinions.

Speaking as a mother and a teacher of young children, George's behavior seems quite typical to me. Yes some children might be less shy in that situation, but plenty would react like George. Children have different temperments; he may just be a more cautious child. We do not know how he reacts in other group situations.He appeared to act quite normally at Pippa's wedding. For the most part you can state your opnions on this blog, but you are not exempt from others commenting on them.

In my opinion - remarking on the comment -agreeing or disagreeing with it is both fine and beneficial - suggesting a person shouldn't be thinking that is not. I often see opinions here I don't agree with - sometimes finding them too harsh - sometimes feeling they don't deal with the reality of issues - but I always feel a person has a right to express their reactions because that's what this blog is about.

bluhare and I often disagree massively but we still respect each others comments.

One of the most iconic comments on royal childhood have come from pictures of the queen returning from her long tour after the coronation and little Charles looking completing lost as she greets dignitaries. He was only a year older than George.

Yet, I assume from comments here that it has been inappropriate to comment on that photo - that queen as parent clearly knew her own child and knew what she was doing and criticising her as a mother was too harsh and we should take into account the standards of the time - she knew what felt good for her child and after all Charles was used to her travelling just as it isn't George's first time looking scared and intimated as he gets off an airplane into a crowd of adults.

There are many historians who now think that speaks of some of Charles' issues but most mothers at the time would probably have said what people are saying here. Don't comment on the queen as a mum.

He thinks the world of his governess " " The great heaven itself, a security" ( something like that in his own words. His nanny can pass for a twin sister of Camilla in her looks.

Rebecca / Sweden said, let their families and friends comment on the parenting. The truth, it is society which will judge, and life will be lived among, for, or under the scrutiny of the larger world beyond the immediate comfort zone of family and friends.

Then as long as it is a healthy discussion, it is one of the most important one.

I'm so excited - new earrings that are different from all of the Kiki ones!!!!! I'm a fan of anything different. And I love the coat (initially thought it was a suit, it would be a pretty suit I think). Charlotte's dress is very cute.

So happy they got to meet men who had served as resistance fighters during the war. What an honor to hear about, firsthand, their experiences. And glad the people have created the wall memorial and that Kate and William got to visit there. Solid grounding against any history revisionists. Great tour so far. :)

Does anyone know if she has worn this McQueen outfit before? The outfit looks familiar, as though she might've worn it differently in the past, or might have mixed and matched the top and bottom with other pieces? Just wondering if this outfit has been seen somehow in the past because whenever the Duchess repeats an outfit it's usually mentioned here, as well as the occasion(s) in which it was worn, but this time it hasn't been made clear whether this is a repeat outfit, repeat pieces, or new. Thank you and good day.

I wasn't immediately wowed by the Duchess' outfit but the more the day has gone on the more impressed I am. It is chic and elegant. She looks professional and pretty simultaneously - with the usual sartorial diplomacy. The jewels are lovely and add an element of glamour. So excited for the tour.

I love the whole family's look!! What a great start to the tour. Love the nod to the Polish colours - I'm pretty sure they're rubies! I particularly liked their meeting with the Polish veterans, a great nod to the countries' shared past. Looking forward to the rest of the tour.

I am so excited that this tour has started. I always love it when Kate gets new jewelry. The pendant and earrings are gorgeous. George and Charlotte peeking out the window of the plane is precious. I can't wait until tonight for the more formal reception.

Could the stone in the necklace be a pink sapphire rather than a ruby? Almost photographs that way for me, although of course it is very hard to tell the exact color. Lighting in photos could be deceptive.

A ruby is in the sapphire family of gemstones. Colour variations from photographs as viewed on computers are impossible to judge with any reliability. Also, as natural rubies are as tainted as ivory nowadays, a synthetic stones are a possibility; however, it doubt that they would be. Either way, it's a beautiful set. The non-matching ring, especially, has a genuine look to it.

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Omg Charlotte is such a cutie. I'd love to see them do an engagement (or polo) with just Charlotte and not George - I'd love to see her personality more, and I'd love to see them interact with her more. When it's both kids, they always pay more attention to George..which btw I do NOT mean as criticism - Charlotte seems to be a more relaxed child who just needs less comforting attention in public than her brother, which is a totally fine thing for both kids...just for me makes it feel like we haven't gotten to see candid Charlotte with her parents as much. Also for those of you who say Charles is the reason Kate and William don't work much because he's afraid of them outshining him and Camilla - keep in mind that Kate and William just started a tour on Camilla's 70th birthday. And with their kids, so even more attention on them. Not saying it was on purpose - just pointing out yet another example of Charles clearly not having much control over them and their workload.

My first thought was that perhaps the jewelry (earrings and necklace) were a gift at one point for DOC as they're George's birthstone - Ruby. A lot of mothers receive "first born" gifts -- today was a fitting day to wear them! I agree the ring does look a bit antique.

LOVING these new styles from the DOC -- the painted toes, an extra ring, the nude sandals yesterday. Spot on!

Security was alert and plentiful. When walking with the president and his wife there was a close circle of security men within close proximity of the four looking uber alert, uber serious (and pretty handsome I might add) and so it was all morning seemingly.

So happy they showed the playroom they had set up for the children and the outside play sets (with one blue slide and one pink slide). I always wonder if the children are bored and being looked after properly. "Mom think" never goes away, lol.

I'm not a huge fan of this outfit - it's pretty but I was hoping for a little more color as a nod to the host country. Charlotte was absolutely adorable, as always. She is looking more and more like Queen Elizabeth every day. George is also adorable and has the best facial reactions - I love all of the looks he gives out and has been since he was a baby. Does anyone know what the weather was this morning for their arrival? It looked overcast so I'm wondering if his fidgeting was due to the weather if it was chilly. I went to private school where we had to wear skirts every day and sometimes, even a slightly breezy day can feel cold on bare legs.

It looks like the children are all set up for some fun while their parents work - I think it's very thoughtful to have things for the children to play with and who doesn't like a good swing set?

Thanks for the close up of the necklace and earrings. Definitely rubies and diamonds and some fine quality diamonds at that. Would so love to know how she came to have them. Provenance is such an exciting facet (pardon the pun) of following royal bling.

About the antique ring. I think it looks really old and worn. I have looked to see if anyone has followed up on that in the media but nothing so far. I would love to think that it once belonged to Queen Elizabeth I or something. Yeh, like they would allow that to be worn. Not likely. (There is a small locket ring they have of QEI. It has a ruby on top I think and a drawing of her mother, Anne Boleyn, on the inside. It is said she wore it every day.) I think, since Kate wore the ring on state business they should tell us about her jewelry worn during a state visit. Seems fair to me.

I like her outfit...especially the jewelry. Really pretty. I would really like to see her hair parted on the side and blown out straight...maybe one time during the tour?! I'm also surprised no hat as well? Charlotte, kudos to you for doing such an amazing job. Appreciate all your hard work!

I'm loving her new look. The hair looks so fresh and makes her look more mature (in a great way)! I think it also suits her face shape and makes her look even more lovely. I also am enjoying some of her more dating necklines. Feels like she's coming into her own as a royal and woman - much as Princess Diana did later in her life. It's a joy to see such a seemingly happy and normal family. I'm sure Diana would have been so proud.

I think that the earrings and necklace aren't a set. The necklace has a single halo and is set in white gold and the earrings have a double halo and are set in yellow. I think the earrings look like modified versions of the Queen Mary Ruby earrings that go wth the necklace Kate wore to the state banquet. A pic is here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/253468285251406733/

I agree, Anon, that the three pieces of red jewelry are not a set. But I am not sure Queen Mary's earrings would be altered, since I believe the Queen still wears them. I now think the necklace is ruby, still think the ring is garnet (maybe a birthstone ring of Kate's; she made sure it was quite visible), not sure about the stones in the earrings. They look slightly golden, but perhaps because of the gold setting.

The arrival went quite well, other than Prince George's reluctance and the flower lady running around wih her bouquet. It appeared to be the same one later presented to Kate by a child. There was no way to give it to Kate when she was carrying Charlotte. :-)

wow fantastic post as always Charlotte. the duchess looks gorgeous in white and I love seeing her beautiful family all together. haha I hope they have more babies too. they are so blessed. thanks for sharing. looks like it is a lovely visit.

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Kate's Calendar

18 February - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend the BAFTAs at the Royal Albert Hall. The Duke, President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and The Duchess will meet BAFTA representatives and watch the ceremony.

19 February - The Duchess of Cambridge and The Countess of Wessex will attend the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange at Buckingham Palace.

21 February - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Sunderland. They will first visit The Fire Station, one of Sunderland’s most iconic buildings, recently converted into a music and arts hub. The Duke and Duchess will then travel to see the Northern Spire, an ambitious and striking new bridge over the River Wear, due to open in spring 2018.

27 February - The Duchess will visit the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to learn more about the College’s global health programmes to reduce maternal and newborn mortality worldwide, and will attend a roundtable discussion on tackling the stigma around women’s health.

Later that day, Kate will visit St Thomas' Hospital to officially launch a campaign to promote nursing worldwide. Her Royal Highness will visit a specialist ward, take part in a roundtable discussion and deliver a speech to mark the launch of the Nursing Now campaign.

28 February - The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, will visit the exhibition 'Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography'. Forming the Gallery's first Patron's Trail, Kate has selected images from the exhibition for which she has written personal captions that will be displayed alongside the photographs. The Duchess has also written a foreword to the exhibition catalogue.

19 May - The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

12 October - The wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank at Windsor.